About the UFW
The dominant force behind attempts to unionize much of the agricultural labor force concentrated in California and spinning off of smaller-scale efforts in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Washington, Ohio, and Michigan has been the UFW, headed since its inception in 1962 by Cesar Chavez until his death in April 1993. The UFW remains today to fight for the rights of farm workers. Many of the issues that the union fought for 30 years ago are some of the same issues that they fight for today. The union has not given up, and its dignity has not been weakened.
Each worker fights for justice and with a certain mind-set...
Vision[[1]]
To provide farm workers and other working people with the inspiration and tools to share in society's bounty.
Core Values:
- Integrity
--Doing the right thing even when no one is looking.
- Si Se Puede! (Yes we can!) Attitude
--The embodiment of a personal and organizational spirit that promotes confidence, courage, and risk taking.
- Innovation
--The active pursuit of new ideas.
- Non-Violence
--Enagaging in disciplined action.
- Empowerment
--A fundamental belief in and respect for people.
The Flag
"A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives
pride... When people see it they know it means dignity." Cesar Chavez [2].
"The black eagle signifies the dark situation of the farm worker. The Aztec eagle is a historic symbol for the people of Mexico. The UFW incorporated the Aztec eagle into its design in order to show the connection the union had to migrant workers of Mexican-American descent, though not all UFW workers were Mexican-American. The white circle signified hope and aspirations. The red background stood for the hard work and sacrifice that the union members would have to give. The UFW also adopted an official motto, "Viva la Causa" (Long Live Our Cause)." [3]
Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez was the most important Latino leader in U.S. history, and he devoted his life to helping others.[4]. He preached non-violence, and followed the words of Ghandi as he fought for the rights of thousands of farm workers. He did not fight for the rights of a single race or gender, but instead, he fought for all of mankind that experiences injustice.
"The whole idea of the union, it's not only the union, but it represents, together with you and me, all our brothers, Chicano and white and black and everything, represents an idea that poor people can get together and win." --Chavez[[5]]
Chavez was willing to sacrifice his own life so that the union would continue and that violence was not used. In order to get his message across, he would fast. In the winter of 1968 Chavez went on a water only, 25 day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days, and again in 1988, this time for 36 days. Commenting on his fasting, he stated, "Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence. We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own self-respect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a rededication and recommitment to the struggle for justice through nonviolence."
He also stated, "A fast is first and foremost personal. It is a fast for the purification of my own body, mind, and soul. The fast is also a heartfelt prayer for purification and strengthening for all those who work beside me in the farm worker movement. The fast is also an act of penance for those in positions of moral authority and for all men and women activists who know what is right and just, who know that they could and should do more. The fast is finally a declaration of non-cooperation with supermarkets who promote and sell and profit fromCalifornia table grapes. During the past few years I have been studying the plague of pesticides on our land and our food. The evil is far greater than even I had thought it to be, it threatens to choke out the life of our people and also the life system that supports us all. This solution to this deadly crisis will not be found in the arrogance of the powerful, but in solidarity with the weak and helpless. I pray to God that this fast will be a preparation for a multitude of simple deeds for justice. Carried out by men and women whose hearts are focused on the suffering of the poor and who yearn, with us, for a better world. Together, all things are possible." [6]
The impact that Chavez had on the farm workers he led as well as the United States is evident in the acions taken after his death. More than 40,000 people attended his funeral, and people grieved all throughout the U.S. [7] Chavez received the Aguila Azteca (The Aztec Eagle) in 1991. This is Mexico's highest award presented to people of Mexican heritage who have made major contributions outside of Mexico. Cesar is one of only two Mexican Americans to ever receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 8, 1994. This is the highest civilian honor in the United States. This award was presented by President Bill Clinton. [8] In 1994, Chavez's family organized the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation to encourages others to continue the battle that Cesar fought for so many years and to promote his life, vision, and work.
"I had a dream that the only reasons the employers were so powerful was not because they in fact had that much power, in terms of dealing with the lives of their workers at will, but what makes them truly powerful was that we were weak. And if we could somehow begin to develop some strength among ourselves, I felt that we could begin to equal that, balancing their power in agriculture." --Cesar Chavez[[9]]
To learn more about Cesar Chavez, visit the sites listed below.
"The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the farmworkers' Struggle"
United Farm Workers Official Web Site
Cesar Chavez: A Biographical Sketch
